Safety-signal for railways



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

I P. O. BOUCK.

SAFETY SIGNAL FOR RAILWAYS.

No. 253,343. Patentd Pe'b'; 7,1882.

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2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PETER G. BOUGK, OF PlT-TSFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

SAFETY-SIGNAL FOR RAILWAYS.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of lliietters Patent No. 253,343, dated February '7, 1882.

Application filed June 16, 1881.

and useful Improvements in Railway-Signals,

of which the following is full and exact description.

My invention relates to improvements in safety-signals that are placed at fixed points adjacent to railway-tracks to indicate the condition of said tracks in respect to their safety for trains that are required to run thereon; and the object of my invention is to provide for use at or near the points where different tracks cross each other signals that will indicate to persons on an approaching train,while at a safe braking distance from the crossing, the condition (safe or dangerous) of the track upon which the train is moving.

This object I attain by means of the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which Figure l is a side view of the system of signal-targets and their moving mechanisms; Fig.

2, a plan view of the same; Figs. 3 and 4, enlarged and detached details of the construction and arrangement of sprocket-wheels for. moving the signal-targets; Fig. 5, an enlarged 0 vertical section of the mechanism at the central station for imparting a simultaneous movement to the signaltargets; and Fig. 6, a horizontal section at the line a w of Fig. 5;

In the drawings, the tracks A and A are 5 represented in Fig. 2 as crossing each other at an acute angle; but it will be readily seen that my invention can be used with equal facility' on tracks that cross each other at any angle. At any convenient point near the spot 40 where the tracks cross a central column or operating-station, B, should be located; but

as a matter of economy, and for the reason that the operations of the signal-man may be observed by more persons, I prefer to have the Operating-station located at or near a passen- (No model.)

of the following: a sleeve, 1), arranged to vibrate on the center I), and provided with a sprocket-wheel, O. A hand-lever, D, is attached to the sleeve b for the purpose of imparting the required motion thereto, and the said lever is adapted to engage in notches formed in the stationary ring E to secure the sleeve 1) in any required position. Surrounding the sleeve b there is a second sleeve, 12 provided with a sprocket-wheel, G, and so arranged that it can be moved conjunctively with the sleeve 11, or entirely independent of the latter. A hand-lever, D, is secured to the sleeve b for the purpose of imparting an independent movement to said sleeve, and the lever D is adapted to engage in notches formed in the ring E, (the latter being secured to the lever D, so as to move with said lever D,) and by this arrangement of the parts the sleeves b and b may be locked together by securing the lever D in the ring E, so that the two sleeves will move as one piece 5 or, when desired, the sleeve b may be turned independently of the other by simply disengaging the lever D from the notches in the ring E and using said lever for turning the sleeve 1) into the position required.

At eligible points for observation from the trains any required number of signal-columns or target-shafts should be located near the lines of both tracks, and the outer signal-targets should be placed beyonda safe braking distance from the track-crossing. In Fig.1 the signal-columns for the track A are designated by the letters F, and those for the track A by the letters F. Each of said columns is provided with a target-shaft,f, that is arranged to vibrate or rotate therein, and each of said shafts is provided with a sprocketwheel, f, which I preferably make one-half the diameter of the wheels (J and C, so that one-fourth of a revolution of the latter wheels will produce a half-revolution of the smaller line of the track A, and those marked G on the line of the track A. Above each target the shaft f is extended to form a stem, f, for receiving a night-signal-of the usual lantern with its opposite faces of a different color.

The sprocket-wheel O is connected, by means of the chain H, to the sprocket-wheels f of all the targets G on the line of the track A, and the sprocket-wheel G is connected, by means of the chain H, to the sprocket-wheelsf of all the targets G on the line of the track A. The targets are arranged in such manner that they will present the same face to trains running toward the central station, B, from either direction on the same line of track-that is to say,if the targets exhibitthe color for "safety to a train approaching the station from one portion of the track A, a train coming toward the station on the same track, but from an opposite direction, will have the same color exhibited to it; and, in like manner when the danger color is exhibited it will be seen from the trains running toward the station from either direction on the same line of track; but the targets for the different tracks may have their colors set, as hereinafter described, so that the targets for one line of tracks will exhibit their safety side, while those for the other line of tracks will expose their danger side to approaching trains.

The operation of my invention is as follows: When the sleeves b and b are locked together, as hereinbei'ore described, to secure the parts in position to show the safety side of the targets to trains approaching the station B on one track, and the danger side of the targets for the other track is exposed to trains (on that track) that are running toward the station E, let it be supposed that the safety side of the targets are exposed to the incoming trains on the track A, but the trains 011 the track A have become entitled to the right of way. The signal-man, by a single movement of the lever D, reverses the sides of all the targets on both lines, and thereby indicates to the trains on track A that they can run to the station with safety, and gives warning to the trains on track A that it is dangerous for them to proceed; and in a like manner, but by reversing the lever D, the targets may be simultaneously changed to give the trains on the track A the safety signal when they become entitled to the right of way. WVhen, from any cause, it becomes necessary to prevent all trains from approaching the station B, the danger side of all the targets may be set to face outwardly in respect to the station B by moving the lever D to turn the sleeve I) in the proper direction one-fourth of a revolution; and in a like manner the safety side of all the targets may be faced outward, if it should ever be required.

Instead of forming the entire connections between the sprocket-wheels O, U, and f by means of chains, as herein described, it is obvious that proper connections may be made by using pieces of chain of sufficient length to accommodate the movements of the sprocketwheels where such connections pass around the wheels, and for the intermediate parts rods provided with turn-buckles or other suitable tightening devices may be substituted; and instead of locating the sprocket-wheels O, C, and f overhead, as shown in the drawings, they may be placed underground by having their connectin g-chains arranged to run in suitable covered trenches; but the signal-targets and the levers for actuating them must be maintained in the elevated positions shown and described.

When desired, the sleeve 1) may be connected by the usual appliances with a switch for shifting the tracks, and the movement of the signal-targets effected by a positive motion, (by means of the sprocket-wheels and chains,) as herein described.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a safety-signal for the crossing-points of different railway-tracks, the combination, with a central operating-station, as herein described, of several series of connected signaltargets adapted to receive a simultaneous changing movement by a positive motion imparted to them from the said central station, as herein set forth, each of the several series of targets being exclusively appropriated to a line of tracks running parallel with that particular line of targets, but all the targets being connected to move conjunctively, as and for the purpose herein specified.

2. In a safety-signal apparatus, the combination, with a sleeve, 6, provided with a lever, D,of the sleeve b, surrounding the sleeve 1), and provided with a lever, D, both of said sleeves being supplied with appliances for moving different lines of signals, as herein described, and adapted to move eonjunctively as one piece, or separately, as and for the purpose specified.

PETER 0. BOUCK.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM H. Low, CHAS. S. BYINGTON. 

